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David Chun on Korean and New Jersey Roots, Investment Banking, and Building Equilar Into a Governance Leader
Do you feel defined by a major career setback? Are you questioning your path after a pivotal layoff or a venture that didn't take off? In this powerful episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles to explore the unconventional leadership journey of Equilar Founder and CEO, David Chun. David shares the intimate story of weathering both a major early-career layoff and the devastating dot-com crash just as he started his company.
David Chun is the Founder and CEO of Equilar, a leading provider of executive intelligence solutions. Recognized as one of NACD’s “100 Most Influential Players in Corporate Governance,” he has also received the Disruptor Award from 2020 Women on Boards and the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business honor. David is a frequent speaker on governance at forums hosted by Nasdaq, NYSE, Deloitte, KPMG, NACD, and Stanford. He serves on the boards of the Commonwealth Club World Affairs, PGA Reach, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and Silicon Valley Leadership Group. He earned degrees from Wharton and UVA.
Key Takeaways:
- David shares how growing up as an immigrant and an outsider in 1970s New Jersey, athletics became the critical early catalyst for self-confidence, community, and breaking in. Discover why youth sports is an essential foundation for unconventional leadership.
- Hear the raw story of being part of a massive layoff early in his career and facing the extreme self-doubt that followed ("What have I done to deserve this?"). David's core lesson: Allow five minutes for the self-pity, then make the strategic pivot to control your your own destiny.
- Starting Equilar just before the dot-com bubble burst forced David to operate with a brutal level of financial hyper-focus. Learn why discipline and cutting non-essential things were the keys to survival—even when it meant going without a salary for three years—and how this financial grit became a permanent part of his company's culture.
- David reveals how the tragic events of 9/11 forced an existential choice for Equilar: shut down or make a massive strategic shift. His decision to go all-in on executive compensation and corporate governance was the breakthrough that defined his company's long-term success.
- More than IQ or grades, David stresses that relationships matter most. See how Equilar's massive database, which maps connections between C-suite and board members, helps leaders solve the "last mile" problem in recruiting and business development, strengthening your own professional network.
You already possess the grit and the network to power through your next challenge. We hope David's story inspires you to lean into your own unconventional path.
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast!
CONNECT WITH DAVID CHUN:
Playlist
CONNECT WITH SHANNON:
LinkedIn Shannon | LinkedIn NBJV
Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)
View all episodes
By Shannon NashDo you feel defined by a major career setback? Are you questioning your path after a pivotal layoff or a venture that didn't take off? In this powerful episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles to explore the unconventional leadership journey of Equilar Founder and CEO, David Chun. David shares the intimate story of weathering both a major early-career layoff and the devastating dot-com crash just as he started his company.
David Chun is the Founder and CEO of Equilar, a leading provider of executive intelligence solutions. Recognized as one of NACD’s “100 Most Influential Players in Corporate Governance,” he has also received the Disruptor Award from 2020 Women on Boards and the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business honor. David is a frequent speaker on governance at forums hosted by Nasdaq, NYSE, Deloitte, KPMG, NACD, and Stanford. He serves on the boards of the Commonwealth Club World Affairs, PGA Reach, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and Silicon Valley Leadership Group. He earned degrees from Wharton and UVA.
Key Takeaways:
- David shares how growing up as an immigrant and an outsider in 1970s New Jersey, athletics became the critical early catalyst for self-confidence, community, and breaking in. Discover why youth sports is an essential foundation for unconventional leadership.
- Hear the raw story of being part of a massive layoff early in his career and facing the extreme self-doubt that followed ("What have I done to deserve this?"). David's core lesson: Allow five minutes for the self-pity, then make the strategic pivot to control your your own destiny.
- Starting Equilar just before the dot-com bubble burst forced David to operate with a brutal level of financial hyper-focus. Learn why discipline and cutting non-essential things were the keys to survival—even when it meant going without a salary for three years—and how this financial grit became a permanent part of his company's culture.
- David reveals how the tragic events of 9/11 forced an existential choice for Equilar: shut down or make a massive strategic shift. His decision to go all-in on executive compensation and corporate governance was the breakthrough that defined his company's long-term success.
- More than IQ or grades, David stresses that relationships matter most. See how Equilar's massive database, which maps connections between C-suite and board members, helps leaders solve the "last mile" problem in recruiting and business development, strengthening your own professional network.
You already possess the grit and the network to power through your next challenge. We hope David's story inspires you to lean into your own unconventional path.
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast!
CONNECT WITH DAVID CHUN:
Playlist
CONNECT WITH SHANNON:
LinkedIn Shannon | LinkedIn NBJV
Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)